Undergraduate Programs

For information about specific courses listed in program requirements, as well as other offerings, please see the Undergraduate Catalog here.

Some important changes to the required courses for PR and advertising majors. Effective for majors entering Fall 2013:

No longer required:
Communication Theory is no longer a required course (but it may be taken as a related elective).
Internship is no longer a required course (but it may be taken as a related elective).

New required courses:
PR/Adv Law and Ethics now is a required course for all PR and Adv majors.
The number of related electives for PR majors has increased to 9 credits (up from 6 credits).
The number of related electives for Adv majors has increased to 6 credits (up from 3 credits).

Some important notes:
-- Although Internship is no longer a required course for students entering the major in Fall 2013 or later, students still are encouraged to take Internship as one of their related electives.
-- The total number of credits needed to complete your major has not changed.
-- Please see the two-year course sequences for each major below to make sure you are on track to complete all courses in the right order so you can take your senior-year capstone courses on time and graduate. Always talk with an advisor about course schedule and course sequence when planning your class schedule.

FAQ for Rowan Advertising Majors and PR Majors

This FAQ offers general advisement information. As always, you should meet with your academic advisor every semester regarding your specific course requirements.

How long does it take to complete the major?
Both the advertising and PR majors require a minimum of two, full academic years to complete the major course requirements. However, proper course planning is essential to completing these requirements in two years. Proper planning also helps you get the most from your major -- and it ensures that you will graduate on time.

Can I double major in advertising and PR?
This is an important issue that you need to discuss with your academic advisor before deciding. There are many options to consider before deciding on a double major. Some key points to consider first: Meeting the course requirements can be difficult. For this reason, a double major MUST be approved by the first semester of your junior year. Also, no course or prerequisite waivers will be approved for the purpose of completing a double major. So early and careful course planning is essential. The first step when considering a possible double major is to meet with your academic advisor to discuss it -- before your junior year.

To be on schedule, when should I be completing the major courses?
Proper course sequencing is essential to getting the most from your study of advertising or PR. The knowledge and material covered in early courses helps you to succeed in the more complex and difficult upper-level courses. Taking courses in the proper sequence also assures that you will have completed the necessary prerequisites for taking your senior-year courses. For these reasons, it is very important to meet with an adviser when planning course schedules and to take courses on time and in the correct order.

Important note for PR majors: Public Relations majors must earn a B- or higher in Basic PR Writing to continue on to Advanced PR Writing. (This requirement does not apply to Liberal Studies: PR in the Workplace majors as Advanced PR Writing is not required for that major. PR in the Workplace majors must earn a C- or higher in Basic PR Writing.)

Two-year course sequence for PR majors entering Fall 2013:IMPORTANT – You must follow the order of courses below to make sure you have met the prerequisites for your upper-level courses. Failure to follow this sequence can delay your graduation. Always meet with an advisor if you have questions on your course schedule and sequence.

Sophomore Year
Public Speaking (this requirement should be completed before you begin your major courses)

Fall Junior Year
Intro to PR
Intro to Advertising
Basic PR Writing
Intro to PR/Adv Research

Spring Junior Year
Advanced PR Writing
PR/Adv Law and Ethics
Publication Layout and Design
Public Opinion

Spring Senior Year
PR Planning (MUST be taken after Case Studies and in SPRING semester)
Related electives
Two-year course sequence for Adv majors:IMPORTANT – You must follow the order of courses below to make sure you have met the prerequisites for your upper-level courses. Failure to follow this sequence can delay your graduation. Always meet with an advisor if you have questions on your course schedule and sequence.

Sophomore Year
Public Speaking (this requirement should be completed before you begin your major courses)

Fall Junior Year
Intro to Advertising
Intro to PR
Ad Copywriting
Intro to PR/Adv Research

Spring Senior Year
Advertising Campaigns (MUST be taken after Advertising Strategies and in SPRING semester)
Related Electives

(Course requirements for majors in Liberal Studies: Advertising in the Workplace and PR in the Workplace can be found at the links below.)

Are there minimum GPA and grade requirements for graduation?Yes. You must have a 2.5 GPA in your major courses as well as an overall GPA of 2.0 to meet this requirement. Grades of C- or above are required in major courses to count. Grade of B- or above is required in Basic PR Writing for PR majors.

Can I accelerate the completion of my course requirements or degree?
You might be able to lighten the number of courses you need to take in your senior year by taking summer courses. For instance, some students opt to complete their Internship course requirement during the summer after their junior year.
Accelerating degree completion also may be possible with careful planning beginning in your freshman year. You will need to take full course loads during summer sessions. Be sure to meet with your academic advisor to review your course planning options.

What are the prerequisites to be completed before taking Internship?1. Advertising students must complete Ad Copywriting and Account Planning or Portfolio (formerly Print Media Copywriting and Electronic Media Copywriting) before applying to be approved to take Internship. It is also strongly recommended that Publication Layout and Design be completed before taking Internship.2. PR majors must complete Basic PR Writing and Advanced PR Writing before applying to be approved to take Internship. It is also strongly recommended that Publication Layout and Design be completed before taking Internship.3. You also must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 before applying for approval to take Internship. 4. Important: You need approval to enroll in Internship -- and your internship site needs to be approved -- before you begin Internship. See your advisor for details. Get the forms here.

What are the senior-year capstone course requirements?
This is a crucial question for BOTH advertising and PR majors. Advertising majors: The first advertising capstone (senior year) course is Advertising Strategies (OFFERED ONLY IN THE FALL). The second advertising capstone course is Advertising Campaigns (OFFERED ONLY IN THE SPRING). PR Majors: The first PR capstone (senior year) course is Case Studies (OFFERED ONLY IN THE FALL). The second capstone course is PR Planning (OFFERED ONLY IN THE SPRING). IMPORTANT: Make sure you have completed the necessary course prerequisites to complete the capstone courses in the order they are offered in your senior year.

What other issues do I need to plan for when mapping out my course schedule?
This FAQ covers only your major course requirements. You also need to make sure you are working toward completing your related electives. Beyond your major, you also need to make sure you are working toward completing all outstanding General Education course requirements. Be sure to discuss these additional requirements as well as the minimum GPA requirements when you meet with your academic advisor.

What if I have other questions? How can my advisor help?
Talk to your academic advisor whenever you have a question. It’s also important that you meet with your academic advisor every semester to discuss your specific course requirements. Program requirement sheets can be found at the links below. And, of course, you can review your courses completed in your Banner account. All department faculty members are eager to help with these and other issues while you study with us. We all want you to get the most from your study at Rowan University. Track your progress and meet with your academic advisor regularly.